What can impair intelligence?

[SpaceYeti]

He's saying that masturbating while taking the test will reduce your score. Taking the test and masturbating. Simultaneously.

 

[Bird]

Living.

 

[Moocow]

You know, in psychology intelligence is often classified into 9 types. There's nothing to really say about most of these threads angsting about intelligence because the OPs never specify what they're talking about.

Living.

I'd say being alive has fundamentally sustained my mental functioning, so I must disagree!

 

[Bird]

You know, in psychology intelligence is often classified into 9 types. There's nothing to really say about most of these threads angsting about intelligence because the OPs never specify what they're talking about.


I'd say being alive has fundamentally sustained my mental functioning, so I must disagree!

Yes, but the longer you live the more brain cells you kill.

 

[Moocow]

Yes, but the longer you live the more brain cells you kill.

We have more brain cells at birth than any other time in our lives. That isn't intelligence though, because over the course of our lives, our neurological structure reconfigures itself around what experience and memory indicate is most necessary. Intelligence could probably be seen in some ways as how efficiently we've optimized and adapted to our experiences over time.

If you go out of your way to drink alcohol or get hit in the head, anything that is killing brain cells faster than a natural, healthy rate, then yes that will surely make self optimization more difficult.

 

[Bird]

We have more brain cells at birth than any other time in our lives. That isn't intelligence though, because over the course of our lives, our neurological structure reconfigures itself around what experience and memory indicate is most necessary. Intelligence could probably be seen in some ways as how efficiently we've optimized and adapted to our experiences over time.

If you go out of your way to drink alcohol or get hit in the head, anything that is killing brain cells faster than a natural, healthy rate, then yes that will surely make self optimization more difficult.

What about air pollution, I don't know if this kills brain cells but it seems likely that it would?


and you're right it is not intelligence per say. Silly me.

 

[Moocow]

What about air pollution, I don't know if this kills brain cells but it seems likely that it would?


and you're right it is not intelligence per say. Silly me.

Outdoor air quality is less of a danger to brain cells than indoor air quality, especially at places like art studios where I spend a lot of time inadvertently inhaling turpentine fumes. If you live in a dense city where air pollution is really bad then I wouldn't be surprised if it killed brain cells.

Although each generation is in greater danger than the previous if the quality of our environment is degrading, so I don't think anyone can quite answer for us yet whether or not our air quality is going to screw us over in the long run.

I don't know if you're implying it or not, but I find the "no point in being healthy because everythings gonna kill you anyways" attitude to be pretty sad. It seems like a rationalized surrender to perceived helplessness.

 

[snafupants]

Outdoor air quality is less of a danger to brain cells than indoor air quality, especially at places like art studios where I spend a lot of time inadvertently inhaling turpentine fumes.

Although each generation is in greater danger than the previous if the quality of our environment is degrading, so I don't think anyone can quite answer for us yet whether or not our air quality is going to screw us over in the long run.

I don't know if you're implying it or not, but I find the "no point in being healthy because everythings gonna kill you anyways" attitude to be pretty sad. It seems like a rationalized surrender to perceived helplessness.

Outdoor air quality used to be a concern of mine, but then I realized two things. First, in the 1970's cars were reengineered to eradicate 99% of carbon monoxide, compared to before that time when approximately 5-10% of exhaust was CO - not good. My father hitchhiked for years as an adolescent and young adult, and he's one of the smartest people I know. Case studies don't prove anything, but in light of him and other smart people, I like my chances.

I know what you're thinking, there is other bad stuff there. That's right, but a lot of that is being filtered out (e.g., led in 1993) and catalytic converters are where it's at. The second thing I realized was that the smartest people tend to be in big cities, which have terrible air quality. This may be a numbers game, but these people aren't devestated daily by noxious fumes, they're thriving. Again, not perfect correlation stuff, but also no cause for alarm.

I like the points that have already been made: essentially, it's not necessarily how many brain cells you have, but the integrity of those cells (e.g., long dendrites, smooth myelin sheath, efficient glucose metabolism) that makes the difference.

As Moocow said, when you're a youngster you have an overabundance of cells, but not much intelligence. You're brain has perhaps the ideal balance between knowledge and efficiency (crystallized and fluid intelligence) when you're around 30, which is incidentally the time when almost all authors produce their best works.

 

[Yet]

I am pretty sure that IQ drops after a certain age/ in older age ... not that their mind goes wonky per sé ... they are sharp allright but slower processing.
I've read somewhere that fluid declines and crystallized stayes oké.

 

[SpaceYeti]

I am pretty sure that IQ drops after a certain age/ in older age ... not that their mind goes wonky per sé ... they are sharp allright but slower processing.
I've read somewhere that fluid declines and crystallized stayes oké.

Your IQ does not decrease, as your IQ is measured as your mental age over your chronological age, multiplied by a hundred. Liquid intelligence does decrease, but crystal intelligence increases. Your IQ can only drop if you have some sort of mental degradation which is not innate to your age (Alzheimer, tumor, whatever).

 

[Bird]

Outdoor air quality is less of a danger to brain cells than indoor air quality, especially at places like art studios where I spend a lot of time inadvertently inhaling turpentine fumes. If you live in a dense city where air pollution is really bad then I wouldn't be surprised if it killed brain cells.

Although each generation is in greater danger than the previous if the quality of our environment is degrading, so I don't think anyone can quite answer for us yet whether or not our air quality is going to screw us over in the long run.

I don't know if you're implying it or not, but I find the "no point in being healthy because everythings gonna kill you anyways" attitude to be pretty sad. It seems like a rationalized surrender to perceived helplessness.

I am incredibly healthy.
Way more healthy than most (:

 

[SpaceYeti]

I am incredibly healthy.
Way more healthy than most (:

By what standard?

 

[Yet]

Your IQ does not decrease, as your IQ is measured as your mental age over your chronological age, multiplied by a hundred. Liquid intelligence does decrease, but crystal intelligence increases. Your IQ can only drop if you have some sort of mental degradation which is not innate to your age (Alzheimer, tumor, whatever).

I am sorry but that is not true ... it is only called a quotient because that (what you describe) was the algorithm of the first intelligence tests (who are not in use no more b.t.w.). After that it is totally different and works with probability density functions ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Probability_density_function ) and has nothing to do no more with mental and chronical age (exept for the BSIDN perhaps, but that is for the really small ones under 36 months .. of the top of my head ... don't know all of the tests by heart).

Your IQ can certainly drop by age and has most of the time to do with getting slower (due to what is not the question here; statistics is big-numbers-stuff)

I kinda know what I am talking about.

 

[Yet]

the wiki has some main info on it if you're interested:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychometrics

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classical_test_theory

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Item_response_theory

(ps the statistical bits have been quite a while for me... I'dd need to catch up with it to totally grasp it again)

 

[^_\\]

Accepting anything as an absolute truth or fact. The more paradigm glasses you wear, the less you see. The less you see, the less you understand. The less you understand, the less able you are to process things as they are, which is relative, situational and multidimensional.

It is my opinion that the more able one is to examine their existence and everything it entails from many different, objective (as possible) perspectives, the more intelligent they are.

As soon as one begins to accept something as an unalterable truth or "way it is", one prevents oneself from realizing any number of possibilities. The nature of the universe is that of infinite possibility, and when until we approach life with that mindset, we will not expand our own realm of possibility to the infinite.

I am absolutely certain this is the case.

 

[digital angel]

For purposes of discussion I'm throwing out the following question: What about Virginia Wolf? Here are more questions: What about Beethoven or Isaac Newton? What about Abraham Lincoln?

There are allegations that each of the persons listed above suffered from an illness at one time or another, or perhaps their entire lives. Does this beg the question, what is mental illness vis a vis intelligence?

 

[BigApplePi]

For purposes of discussion I'm throwing out the following question: What about Virginia Wolf? Here are more questions: What about Beethoven or Isaac Newton? What about Abraham Lincoln?

There are allegations that each of the persons listed above suffered from an illness at one time or another, or perhaps their entire lives. Does this beg the question, what is mental illness vis a vis intelligence?

Beethoven: He would display high intelligence creating musical compositions, but he would be very unintelligent listening to them as long as he couldn't hear.

Newton - I believe he was not productive during his period of mental breakdown or whatever it was.

Lincoln - ?

Neurosis - this can cause highly focused mental activity as compensation. So if this means increased intelligence, they would still be facing the handicap of emotional distortions.

 

[digital angel]

Allegedly, Lincoln had intense episodes of depression.

 

[Bird]

By what standard?

Medical standards.

 

[BigApplePi]

Allegedly, Lincoln had intense episodes of depression.

Oh yeah. The first thing I'd want to ask is, were his depressions internal (clinical depression) or were they related to anything we know about? Were they during in his growing up period or while he was actually in office? After all, the Civil War and breaking up of the Union was not exactly a cheerful thing.

If he used his depression to find a better way, that could be intelligent. If they pushed him away from dealing with problems, that would be unintelligent.

 

[digital angel]

Oh yeah. The first thing I'd want to ask is, were his depressions internal (clinical depression) or were they related to anything we know about? Were they during in his growing up period or while he was actually in office? After all, the Civil War and breaking up of the Union was not exactly a cheerful thing.

If he used his depression to find a better way, that could be intelligent. If they pushed him away from dealing with problems, that would be unintelligent.

I agree with you there. I don't know the details about Lincoln.

 

[SpaceYeti]

Medical standards.

So if a doctor checked you out, he'd say you're healthy. Okay. But just that? Do you run marathons and so have a very healthy cardiovascular system, or just... doctors say you're good?

 

[Bird]

So if a doctor checked you out, he'd say you're healthy. Okay. But just that? Do you run marathons and so have a very healthy cardiovascular system, or just... doctors say you're good?

I actually retract my earlier statement.
I am too healthy to the point of unhealthiness.
But I think humans as a species just consume
too much and I am fine.

 

[SpaceYeti]

If your health is to the point where "too" applies, than it's bad, making it less than healthy. Could you simply describe what it is about you that makes you healthy?

 

[Bird]

I mainly eat fruits and vegetables and I
love to run.

 

[SpaceYeti]

So how does that make you healthy?

 

[xbox]

Not engaging in mentally stimulating subject areas of one's interest can frustrate the mind so much, that they may have a hard time getting back in touch with their roots. This may be displayed in multiple failures. But once they search for their pot of gold, they will be able to kick everyone out of the water.

 

[a detached retina]

No masturbation releases dopamine and oxytocin which if I had to guess would temporarily increase your intelligence and eventually if you become tolerant to it (which happens to the dopamine system quickly) it will start hampering your intelligence.

It's just the "theory of the conservation of shitty™". Which basically states that shitty is a conservative quantity like energy.

 

[a detached retina]

Allegedly, Lincoln had intense episodes of depression.

Yes and he obviously suffered from brain damage very near to the end of his life.

 

[snafupants]

No masturbation releases dopamine and oxytocin which if I had to guess would temporarily increase your intelligence and eventually if you become tolerant to it (which happens to the dopamine system quickly) it will start hampering your intelligence.

It's just the "theory of the conservation of shitty™". Which basically states that shitty is a conservative quantity like energy.

Nice! Nature certainly does have an affinity for shitty. It's like dammit that guy is having fun, well, let's build up more brain receptors, create a tolerance, and send him back into shitdom.

My idea is to get a different, awesome drug for every day of the week so you don't build up a tolerance while maintaining a buzz. That will teach nature.

 

[a detached retina]

hopefully you wouldn't build up a tolerance to novelty!

 

[BigApplePi]

We can't just let this go. You guys' theories will have to be tested. We will need a control group of very intelligent masturbators and another one of very unintelligent masturbators ... maybe from the pool of those who want to shut down the United States government. Then we will have to get together to compare results. There will have to be testing and retesting. My major concern is if the results go the wrong way, who will be left to interpret the results? This experiment may be too risky to try.

 

[SkyWalker]

how to impair your intelligence?
fast or slow?

fast: a hammer

 

[a detached retina]

We can't just let this go. You guys' theories will have to be tested. We will need a control group of very intelligent masturbators and another one of very unintelligent masturbators ... maybe from the pool of those who want to shut down the United States government. Then we will have to get together to compare results. There will have to be testing and retesting. My major concern is if the results go the wrong way, who will be left to interpret the results? This experiment may be too risky to try.

"Pornography for Algernon"

 

[snafupants]

hopefully you wouldn't build up a tolerance to novelty!

By definition wouldn't that fail to be novelty then?

 

[BigApplePi]

hopefully you wouldn't build up a tolerance to novelty!

By definition wouldn't that fail to be novelty then?

snafupants. I had to reread that.

Tolerance to novelty wouldn't be a novelty, but novelties would remain novelties. Novelty about novelty is a higher level.

 

[snafupants]

Yes, but the longer you live the more brain cells you kill.

While that's more or less true, it's also a negative way of viewing a dynamic and even beautiful entity like the mind. There are things you can do today to expand your mind but sometimes the need for the pseudo catharsis of bitching and moaning wins out. Yes everything atrophies, can we move on now?

 

[SpaceYeti]

They've actually recently discovered that brain cells can be replaced or "heal" the lost ones. So... yeah, brains cells may die, but they get replaced. It's no big deal. We're living creatures, we're gonna die. So what? I won't stop dancing just because the jukebox will be shut off when the bar closes.

 

[a detached retina]

Well... maybe

you can't really develop a tolerance to novelty but you can get used to developing tolerances and therefore become tolerant to developing tolerances. This will lower your threshold for many things including drugs and sensitivity to masturbation and sensitivity to developing tolerances, which in turn will cause you to develop more tolerances, which in turn will cause you to become more resistant to developing tolerances.

 

[Reluctantly]

What can impair intelligence?

a detached retina?

 

[a detached retina]

I for one have definitely caused myself to be much less intelligent than I am.

 

[Agent Intellect]

Speaking from (plenty of) experience: Alcohol.

Speaking from scientific papers I've read (as an alcoholic hoping to recover, plenty): Alcohol.

If you can't do it moderately, don't do it.

 

[snafupants]

Speaking from (plenty of) experience: Alcohol.

Speaking from scientific papers I've read (as an alcoholic hoping to recover, plenty): Alcohol.

If you can't do it moderately, don't do it.

Even in moderation, any benefits from alcohol remain questionable. Alcohol shortens dendrites, hampers memory, and is generally neurotoxic.

If one is going to do anything in moderation, one should opt for marijuana. You will sleep more soundly, enjoy sex and music more, be more relaxed, and think differently.

Alcohol, on the other hand, offers an ephemeral buzz where you can't think properly along with a grating headache the next day.

If you somehow are lucky enough to avoid the grating headache, then your thoughts and emotions will be polluted the next day, and you'll probably have a spastic colon, anxiety, and heart palpitations.

This may seem one sided, but so goes feelings the next day with either substance.

 

[jachian]

...is actually known to enhance various aspects of cognitive function. The available data on caffeine tends toward a similar suggestion. Strange caffeine has been mentioned so many times in this thread. Perhaps there is greater underlying motivation to use these substances as distractors rather than enhancers.

Satirical intent of your list notwithstanding, of course...

I agree to some extent. When in your system they enhance cognitive function until they are metabolised..... After which the natural process of neuron destruction is accelerated..... the problem is that it becomes impossible to experience high and even normal cognitive functions without them....

 

[Zionoxis]

jachian....how could you. I like the Final Fantasy series. Mindless at time, but fun. :3

 

[jachian]

jachian....how could you. I like the Final Fantasy series. Mindless at time, but fun. :3

Okay....... I was just being mean.....

It may be fun..... Until you guys start to hype the thing........

And besides, anytime you have a sequel that has "XI" as a suffix; am just bound to make fun of it.

 

[pjoa09]

masturbation impairs intelligence.

masturbation is to relieve the need for sex.

sex can only be achieved with another partner.

to find another partner you need to be social.

my own theorem : no easy way out.

Yeah you retarded yourself.

could talking about impairing your own intelligence impair your own intelligence?



Just on an emotional release.


DEALING WITH FUCKING MORONS.

THAT FUCKING REDUCES YOUR INTELLIGENCE LIKE FUCKING SHIT.

see? i am a victim of masturbation.

However.

I stand by masturbating in public.

But I guess that impairs morality and conscience.

Or improves your morality.

You will eventually question.

Is it moral to ejaculate in public?

They could just look away right?

Or can they?

Is it their right to see your penis?
Or is it your right to show them your penis?
Is it dangerous? (Considering the slipperiness (I think its cohesion and static friction)


Then again, would masturbating without visual aid and solely imagination beneficial to IQ as it uses imagination thoroughly?

Or is that our own GPU and CPU is where our intelligence really is?

 

[pjoa09]

Speaking from (plenty of) experience: Alcohol.

Speaking from scientific papers I've read (as an alcoholic hoping to recover, plenty): Alcohol.

If you can't do it moderately, don't do it.

In my experience,

Layering the bottom of your glass with good whiskey and brimming it with soda has helped me with thinking.

What I mean by layering is just enough to fill the bottom of the glass.

Or I could be having severe anxiety during problem solving tasks. Yeah, fuck what I said because I perform better with jazz music in the background.

 

[ummidk]

Even in moderation, any benefits from alcohol remain questionable. Alcohol shortens dendrites, hampers memory, and is generally neurotoxic.

If one is going to do anything in moderation, one should opt for marijuana. You will sleep more soundly, enjoy sex and music more, be more relaxed, and think differently.

Alcohol, on the other hand, offers an ephemeral buzz where you can't think properly along with a grating headache the next day.

If you somehow are lucky enough to avoid the grating headache, then your thoughts and emotions will be polluted the next day, and you'll probably have a spastic colon, anxiety, and heart palpitations.

This may seem one sided, but so goes feelings the next day with either substance.

Lol Thank you, really dont enjoy drinking too often because I can't think properly at all and then I forget half the shit that happened anyways (maybe not half in moderation but still). And definently +1 on the marijuana

 

[snafupants]

Not to be contrarian/hedonistic, but I think not masturbating could prove distracting and affect one's observed score on a standardized, professionally administered IQ test.

By masturbation, I assume you mean the languid/relaxed feeling that one may have after ejaculation, and not actually the mere act of rubbing one's skin.

It seems doubtful that attempting to impregnate a kleenex would result in a lower score at all. If done responsibly - a few times per week - your score will not hampered.